RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 335, 4 December 1917, Page 2

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

At the meeting of the Raglan County Council last Thursday the business transacted, in addition to that reported in our last issue, included the following: surfaceman's cottage Cr Morrison submitted a proposal for the purchase of a site and the erection of a surfaceman's cottage in the Pukekawa riding. The ratepayers, he said, were prepared to finance the scheme, upon the understanding that the Council would eventually acquire the property on a lease with a purchasing clause. The Council recognised that the proposal was a sound one, the Chairman remarking that he was of opinion that the Council would have to make the system general throughout the county. The Council tacitly gave Cr Morrison the necessary authority to proceed with the purchase, but no formal resolution was carried. v employees' wages Discussing the rise in wages of surfacemen, Mr Civil (County Engineer) stated that when he told the men that the wages were 10s 6d or 10s 8d a day they laughed, stating that they could get more elsewhere. It was not so much the amount, but lis "sounded better." "It is astonishing how soon they get used to the sound," interjected i Cr Seavill, amidst laughter. "Yes," said another Councillor, "they will soou conclude that 'twelve shillings' sounds better still." It was decid°d to raise the wages j of the surfacemen to lis per day. I NATIVE RATES The clerk reported that he had sent out letters in Maori to the Native owners, with the result that some £3OO was now in sight from these rates. The total cost had been 1 about £4O Councillors expressed satisfaction at the development, and the expenses will probably be allocated pro rata to the several ridings benefiting by the ratas. NOXIOUS WEEDS Noxious #eeds came under discussion, winged thistle being declared a noxious growth in the county: Councillors stated that foxglove was becoming a very great pest, "worse than blackberry." dei clared one, and to combat it was costing one settler fully £l2O a year. were made that it was difficult to get the Department to act energetically in enforcing the Act, much valuable time being lost owing to the "red tape methods," during which the weed gained headway. engineer's keport The Engineer's report stated, inter alia, that the Minister had granted £l5O (£ for £) for Murray's road and the Ohairo bridge, Pukekawa riding, and plans had been prepared. MONEY FOR WORK'S The treasurer's report showed that the following amounts were available fur works in the several ridings:—Karamu £l7l 13s Bd, Karioi £328 3s id, Onewhero £BIB 5s 4d, Pirongk £474 4s 4d, Pukekawa £556, Pukemiro £390 12s 9d, Port Waikato £319 16s lOd, Te Akau £45" 7s 3d, Waingaro £ll9O Is 7<l, Whaiogaroa £6ll 3s lOd, Whangape £391 6s si.